Shuffle of legends boosts Tropicana’s entertainment roster

As agelong arsenic Frank Marino is onstage, Joan Rivers volition unrecorded forever.

Same for Michael Jackson, and the tribute amusement “MJ Live.” And respective of the stars successful the “Legends successful Concert” rotation.

We person aggregate quality breaks involving these productions and those departed icons, with Tropicana Theater astatine the center.

First off, “MJ Live” is moving to the Trop connected either Jan. 30, oregon the archetypal week successful February, co-producer Dick Feeney reports. The Jackson production, a premix of a euphony video show and unrecorded concert, has been astatine The Strat (formerly Stratosphere) since April 2015. But the amusement was headed for the exits the infinitesimal SPI Entertainment took power of The Strat Theater successful July.

Ticket income person not been the contented with “MJ Live,” which is however it recovered a location connected the country of Tropicana Avenue and the Strip.

“We’re thrilled astatine however good the amusement has done implicit the years,” says Feeney, reaching backmost a decennary erstwhile talking of the show’s aboriginal days. “We drew large astatine the Rio, we did unthinkable concern astatine the Stratosphere, and present we’re going to beryllium surrounded by thousands of edifice rooms.”

Jalles Franca and Santana Jackson volition proceed to alternate successful the Jackson role. The amusement volition proceed to instill unrecorded euphony and backing dancers, on with “a fewer tweaks,” including a closing medley of “Can You Feel It?” and “Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground).” The accumulation acceptable for 5:30 p.m. regular (dark Tuesdays) to pb disconnected the Tropicana Theater’s nightly schedule. “Legends” follows astatine 7:30, past Jason Tenner’s Purple Reign enactment astatine 9:30.

This week, the “Legends” amusement is bracing for NFR concern with tributes to Shania Twain, Luke Bryan, Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton.

Frank bows out

Marino is departing the Trop, successful this shuffle of shows. But helium has nary plans to measurement distant from the signifier anytime soon. The resistance legend, who has played a azygous fable his full career, celebrated his sendoff and 58th day connected Nov. 20.

“Thirty years ago, I was connected ‘The Joan Rivers Show,’ and Joan said to me, ‘You marque a surviving impersonating me. God forbid I ever pass,’” Marino said to the audience, peppered with friends and chap resistance performers. “And I thought, ‘If you were to ever pass, I’d person to articulation ‘Legends In Concert.’”

It came to pass, with Marino continuing successful the relation agelong aft Rivers’ decease successful 2014. Reclaiming his Rivers wig from its status box, Marino has been the show’s archetypal and lone dedicated host.

Marino’s departure ends the pairing of 2 of the Strip’s longest-running institutions. “Legends” opened astatine Imperial Palace successful 1983. Marino opened arsenic Rivers successful “Evening astatine La Cage” astatine the Riv successful 1986, and has since fronted “Divas Las Vegas” astatine Linq Hotel and yet “Legends.”

Now Marino plans to particulate disconnected the “Divas” brand. Up adjacent is his “Holiday Diva-Licious Drag Brunch” astatine 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday astatine DW Bistro. He’s touring “Divas” successful January, and connected Feb. 3, is taking connected Italian American Club for an updated mentation of the show.

Also successful 2022, Marino is moving connected a world conception with “Menopause the Musical” and Bronx Wanderers producers Alan and Kathi Glist, and a caller “Divas”-centered amusement with the “Legends” team. Longer-term, Marino is teaming with longtime Vegas headliner and corporate-circuit prima Jeff Civillico on a public-speaking series.

Marino plans to execute until he’s 62 and past telephone it, successful favour of his non-costumed speaking project.

“That is my dream job,” Marino says. “I conscionable privation to beryllium connected a couch, arsenic a boy, and assistance cheery and lesbian youth. Everything I person done, 100-percent, has led to that.”

Tatum to the rescue

“Magic Mike Live” astatine the Sahara should get a needed box-office boost from Channing Tatum’s last installment of the signifier show’s movie franchise.

“Magic Mike’s Last Dance” is successful development, starring Tatum arsenic iconic groover Mike Lane. Reid Carolin is backmost arsenic “MML’s” screenwriter, Gregory Jacobs producing, with Stephen Soderbergh directing. The amusement volition premiere connected HBO Max, with nary merchandise day announced.

Tatum said successful a statement, “There are nary words for however excited I americium to stroke the doors disconnected of the satellite of ‘Magic Mike’ with Steven, Greg, Reid, and the astonishing radical astatine HBO Max. The stripperverse volition ne'er beryllium the same.”

Also connected the tarmac, “Finding Magic Mike” premieres connected HBO Max connected Dec. 16. That’s the competition/documentary filmed for overmuch of this twelvemonth astatine the Sahara.

Cool Hang Alert

“Jim Caruso’s Cast Party” is returning to VegasVille astatine 7 p.m. Wednesday astatine Myron’s astatine the Smith Center. Caruso, a signifier large and dexterous conversationalist, is backmost arsenic emcee. Billy Stritch, Liza Minnelli’s euphony director, joins connected piano. This is simply a turbo-powered, open-mic experience, wherever implicit the years specified performers arsenic Donny Osmond, Susan Anton, Frankie Moreno, Keith Thompson, Brent Barrett and Ruby Lewis person performed. Tickets are $35-$55, minus fees. Ventriloquist puppets volition beryllium admitted escaped of charge

John Katsilometes’ file runs regular successful the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast tin beryllium recovered astatine reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him astatine jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats connected Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 connected Instagram.